The Forest: Building The Best Base

One of the first priorities for players when starting the survival horror game The Forest should be the construction of a base. Base-building is a fundamental part of the game and without one, the game becomes significantly harder. When starting a playthrough, The Forest can be very unforgiving, enemies will start to harass players soon after their plane crash.

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Constructing a strong, defensible base as quickly and efficiently as possible will help players survive for much longer. Creating the best possible base takes planning and time, which is something in short supply in The Forest, as players will also need to survive the elements, hunger, and frequent attacks from enemies.

Updated January 13, 2025, by Andy Chapman: The Forest is one of the best survival horror games available. It takes classic hardcore survival mechanics such as hunger and thirst meters, base building, and resource collecting and throws in violent mutants and hungry cannibals. Its sequel, Sons of the Forest, expands further on the lore and gameplay of the first, creating an even more immersive experience. The Forest has become a cult classic horror game that is both challenging and addictive. This article has been updated to include further entries to help new players create an effective base early in the game.

1

Choose Your Base

Location Makes a Big Difference

There are three types of base available to players and each has its own pros and cons. The first option is a ground base. These are simple to build as resources are close, and players will have the most amount of space to build on, but they are very open to attack.

The second type is a tree house base. These offer a much higher level of safety for players and require fewer materials, but provide less space to expand. The third option is a water base, requiring an island or platform to build on. These offer the most safety but are the hardest to build.

2

Choose Your Materials

Gathering Resources Takes Time

The Forest allows players to build with either wood or stone. Choosing which of these materials to build a base with will be a major early decision as each option takes up a lot of time to collect.

Choosing wood is by far the quickest option. If players are building a wood cabin or a stick fence, wood is the most readily available resource around. Wood is the weaker material though, and enemy attacks can lead to log walls being destroyed. Building a stone wall will take a lot longer to construct, but will offer players a much higher level of protection and durability.

3

Choose A Location Carefully

Explore To Find the Ideal Area

Once players have decided what type of base they’re going to build and which materials they’ll need to use, one of the most important decisions to make next is where to start construction. This decision requires some planning, as changing locations halfway through building a base means a lot of wasted time.

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Players should also consider how close they are to the resources they’ll need going forward. Ideally, bases should be built near a clean water source and not close to any enemy camps. It is a good idea to clear the surrounding area of trees as well, so enemies can’t climb them and jump into the camp.

4

Know Your Neighbors

The Many Dangers of the Forest

After entering The Forest, it doesn’t take long before players are introduced to the island’s dangerous inhabitants. In the early stages of base building, the forest’s cannibals are a constant threat that can attack at any time, making progress tough.

While building a base right next to one of the villages scattered around the island may be inviting more trouble than it’s worth, cannibals can also be a valuable resource throughout the game. From using their bones for armor and weapons to using their meat as emergency food, the cannibals can be farmed easily. Building a base near a settlement will ensure the player has plenty of gruesome resources available.

5

Use The Environment

Natural Defenses Make Life Easier

The Forest is filled with naturally occurring defenses for players to use. From large rocks to high cliffs and vast bodies of water. Utilizing these ready-made resources will help players build safer and more efficient bases.

One of the best options to choose is a body of water. Even when building a base on the shoreline of a lake, the water is a natural wall, as none of the enemies in the game can swim. This also allows for a quick and easy escape route if the enemies attack in force.

6

Preparation Is Your Friend

Don’t Rush. There is Plenty of Time

Like all big projects in-game, or even in real life, preparation is the key to success. Time management is an important aspect of surviving in The Forest, as the game will constantly present situations that will take the player away from building their base.

Planning what to build first, with which materials, and where each section will go before collecting anything, will help players in the long run. Again, getting halfway through construction before realizing there are better locations to build on can take up plenty of time. The quicker a player builds a base, the faster they can get into exploration.

7

Start Small – Aim Big

Create an Ambitious Project Over Time

The Forest can be very overwhelming for new players. With its strong survival element, as well as aggressive enemies, it can seem like an uphill battle. One of the key tips when starting a game is to start small but aim big.

Build all the necessary items to survive the first few hours such as a campfire, a wall for protection, and a basic tent to save the game, but then, players should begin to expand. This will give breathing room to consider building locations and materials in a safer environment.

8

Upgrade Over Time

Build Stone Walls

When building a base in The Forest, one of the most important first steps is to create a basic structure fast. There is an abundance of wood found throughout the game that can be used to create solid log walls or treetop platforms very quickly.

While these are good for new bases, over time, strong enemies such as mutants will break down the walls and gain access to the base. Use log walls as temporary protection and slowly build stronger stone walls to replace them over time. This will ensure players are protected from the dangers of The Forest while they expand and explore the game.

9

Use Traps

Defend The Base While Collecting Resources

One aspect of The Forest players will quickly realize when first starting out is that there are no safe zones. Players will need to make their own safe place within the game, and this can be extremely difficult when enemies find you, as attacks are random and can be common.

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This element of the game can make building a base hard. One of the best ways to defend a base location is with traps. Easily built, they can protect the base effectively, without the player needing to do anything.

10

Use Zip Wires

A Quick Escape Plan

The Forest is a game that rewards ingenuity, using the tools offered in ways that will allow players to not only survive but flourish in the brutal game world. One of the best building options that players should consider when planning out their base is the zip line.

This simple-to-build device can be extremely effective for fast entry and exit into the base. If you need to get into safety as fast as possible, or quickly escape when attacked in numbers, this can be a life-saving addition.

11

Be Creative

Create a Unique Base

The Forest allows players only a few materials to work with, but with these, there is a lot of room for creativity. Once players have settled into the routine of the game, getting creative with their bases is the next step to survival.

From twisting maze-like entrances to complex zip-wire systems, The Forest supplies the means for players to come up with their own unique bases. The game’s enemies will often not be able to handle more complicated systems, making the base that much safer.

12

Decorate Your Home

Everything at Your Disposal

While players can create a simple base that will keep them alive throughout the game, The Forest provides numerous blueprints that allow players to survive in style. From drying racks and storage space to benches and ceiling lamps, it’s easy to create a base the player can be proud of.

Another useful item to create that is both morbidly decorative and helpful is an effigy. Building effigies around the base and then lighting them on fire will ward off certain cannibals, making the area just a little safer. While these don’t always work, they can be lifesaving during the early stages of base building, when the player has a high risk of being attacked.

13

Use Everything Available

An Abundance of Options

The survival handbook in-game has a lot of different options when it comes to constructing items. A good tip is to use everything you have available. Taking the time to build these different items, such as wood, stick, and stone storage units, multiple traps and defenses, and different types of walls, will make playing The Forest a lot easier.

The game throws a lot at the player, and especially when new, it can all seem daunting. It may require a lot of resource collection, but in the long term, the benefits will be worth the effort.

14

Spread Throughout the Island

Build Smaller Bases

The Forest is a big game and as players explore, they will discover many mysterious locations they’ll want to spend more time in. While a main base can take a lot of time to complete, creating smaller bases around the island will help in exploration.

These smaller bases are best created as tree houses, giving good protection in a small area. Creating several smaller bases will give players more options, saving them the often long march back to their main base, which can be dangerous.

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Systems

Released

April 30, 2018

Developer(s)

Endnight Games

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

OpenCritic Rating

Strong